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Eating the budget

How much should be spent per patient on food and drink whilst in hospital?

The complaints about hospital meals are well-known, and most are aware that their expectations should not be high.

But with allegations of malnutrition, missed meals, wasted food and poor diets, perhaps in this case more really is more. The variation throughout trusts shows that some people include meals as a priority for spending, whilst others see it as an opportunity to save.

Then again, buying food in such bulk as to provide for the amount of patients in the NHS is certain to provide large discounts. Thus the cost of such meals cannot be legitimately compared to the amount that a person would spend on their individual meals at home, or at a restaurant.

At a time when the NHS is faced with huge cuts and budget pressures, calling for additional spending could be both counter-intuitive and unnecessary. Then again, jeopardising patient care is just as unacceptable, if not more so.

Perhaps if the trusts took a more average approach to spending on meals, rather than such a wide variation, the food would be of an acceptable level, whilst remaining at an acceptable price, and ensuring that food quality does not depend on your postcode. 

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